SICK's company history

When used in combination with precise optics and intelligent electronics, light can provide the answer to a wide range of issues. This potential was recognized quite some time ago by Dr. E.h. Erwin Sick, who set up his own company back in 1946. In the years that followed, Sick developed his company into a global provider of intelligent sensors and solutions for industrial automation technology.

Technology milestones

Company development

Erwin Sick, company founder

1950

First practice-oriented photoelectric switches based on the autocollimation principle for industrial automation.

Flexi Loop: The unique, remote integration design of the Flexi Loop allows SICK to meet the demand for cost-saving cascading of safe switches and sensors within a machine.2013

1950

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1946

The company known today as SICK AG is born:

Erwin Sick obtains a license from the American military government in Munich to set up his own engineering firm.

1952

Presentation of the first marketable accident prevention light curtain at the International Machine Tool Trade Fair in Hanover. The orders that followed led to the initial serial production and the economic breakthrough.

1956

The company moves to Waldkirch, Germany with its 25 employees.

1972

The first subsidiary is founded in France.

1975

The company expands overseas with the founding of a subsidiary in the USA.

1988

Erwin Sick dies at the age of 79. Gisela Sick takes over from her husband and leads the company as its primary shareholder.

1996

Erwin Sick GmbH changes its company status to an “Aktiengesellschaft” or joint stock company.

1999

The first employee shares are issued domestically and abroad.

2006

SICK celebrates its 60th anniversary.

2016

SICK now has more than 50 subsidiaries and equity investments as well as numerous agencies around the globe. In the fiscal year 2016, SICK had more than 8,000 employees worldwide and achieved Group sales of just under EUR 1.4 billion.

1909

Erwin Sick was born on November 3 to a train driver in Heilbronn, Germany.

1924 - 1928

Apprenticeship in the field of optics.

1932

Start of career at Siemens & Halske, Berlin, as an optical arithmetician; however, the department was closed after six months. He was moved to the laboratory and was given experimental, arithmetic, and constructive tasks, particularly in the area of color film.

1934 – 1939

Employment – initially as a constructor, later as an engineer – at Siemens, Bosch and Askania working on demanding development projects on color film, cinematics, and astronomical and physical devices.

1939 - 1945

Laboratory manager at the optical works of A.C. Steinheil & Söhne, Munich.

1944

Married Gisela Neumann.

1945

Became self-employed: In an old barracks in Vaterstetten near Munich, where Erwin Sick lived with his wife, he single-mindedly followed his technological development aims to produce opto-electronic devices. He used the earnings from selling radios he made himself to support his family.

1946

Founded what was later to become SICK AG on September 26: The apolitical Erwin Sick received a permit from the American military government to practice his profession as an engineer.

1949

First orders received at the “Achema” fair in Frankfurt after a long hiatus. This was an exhibition meeting for chemical apparatus organized by suppliers to the chemical industry.

1951

At the “German Inventor and New Development Trade Fair” in Munich in July, Sick presents the first wooden model he had made of his light curtain and receives a certificate for exceptional creative performance. On October 20, the patent registration for the light curtain invented by Erwin Sick based on the autocollimation principle is the technical breakthrough and forms the basis of an entire range of devices.

1952

Sick presents the first marketable accident prevention light curtain at the Second International Machine Tool Trade Fair in Hanover. The orders that followed led to the initial serial production and eventually to the company's economic breakthrough.

1954

Erwin Sick tries in vain to obtain a loan from the Free State of Bavaria to build up the company. When Baden-Württemberg offers to lend him the money he needs, he moves from Munich to Oberkirch in Baden.

1956

Relocation of the company – along with its 25 employees – from Oberkirch to Waldkirch into the building of August Faller KG, located at An der Allee 7-9.

In October, Sick is granted the patent for a new type of photoelectric retro-reflective sensor that will later become the product with one of the company's strongest sales.

1960

Founding of the “Institute for Automation” in Munich for developing optoelectronic devices for industrial applications. Sick's main argument for founding the organization in Bavaria's state capital is the shortage of qualified engineers in Waldkirch.

1971

Erwin Sick is presented with the Bundesverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse (Order of the Federal Republic of Germany, Ist Class) by Justice Minister Rudolf Schieler on November 26 to commemorate the company's 25th anniversary.

1976/77 Building erected on Sebastian-Kneipp-Strasse. The house at An der Allee 7-9 is given back to the town.

1977 Moved into the new factory on Sebastian-Kneipp-Strasse, which remains the company's headquarters to this day.

1980

On November 19, the Faculty for Machines at the Technical University of Munich awards Erwin Sick his honorary doctorate in engineering in recognition of his contribution to the scientific and constructive development of optical devices with electronic signal evaluation.

1982

On December 2, Erwin Sick receives the gold Diesel Medal for his numerous inventions in the field of opto-electronics.

1988

Erwick Sick dies on December 3 after suffering a fatal heart attack at the age of 79.